Huskers Win IGI Chicago Style Invite

Chicago, Ill. – The No. 10 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team finished first at the IGI Chicago Style Invite, posting a season-high score of 196.475 on Friday night. The Huskers, who improved to 9-1 on the year, scored a 49.0 or better on vault, beam and floor, and won four individual event titles. NU finished ahead of Denver (195. 25), Illinois (194.225) and Iowa (193.625).

Nebraska saw four separate gymnasts earn top honors on four events. Junior Erin Davis captured the vault (9.95) crown, while sophomore Kassandra Nathe tied for first on bars (9.85), Senior Kathryn Howard claimed a piece the beam title with a 9.85, and sophomore Lora Evenstad added a first-place finish on floor.

“I’m really pleased with the effort all the way through,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “We hit 23 of 24 routines, I was proud of the way we kept going.”

Nebraska opened the meet on bars, where Nathe led the way with a career-high score of 9.85 to tie for first-place accolades. Brittnee Habbib posted a 9.80 and tied for third in the event, while Evenstadand Kylie Stone both hit a 9.775. Brittany Skinner added a 9.65, helping NU earn a team total of 48.85 ahead of first-rotation totals from Denver (48.75) and Iowa (48.45), but behind Illinois (49.15).

NU continued on to beam, and Howard set the pace with a season-high-tying 9.85, putting her at a tie for first in the event. Maria Scaffidi and Nathe both totaled a 9.825 to tie for fourth, while Maddie Steinauer chipped in a career-high-tying 9.80. Stone added a 9.775. The Huskers finished with an event score of 49.075 and a running score of 97.925 left them ahead of the Pioneers’ 97.675, the Hawkeye’s 97.45 and the Fighting Illini’s 96.45 at the halfway point.

Nebraska moved on to floor, where Evenstad took the event crown as she tied her season high with a 9.90. Scaffidi posted a 9.875 for second, while Skinner matched her season best of 9.85 to tie for third. Davis tallied a 9.825 mark, and Steinauer rounded out the mix with a 9.80. NU totaled a 49.25 on the event and forged on with a lead at 147.175 over Denver’s 146.35, as well as Iowa (146.175) and Illinois (145.175). 

The Huskers capped the evening on vault, and Davis knocked out a 9.95 to take top honors in the event. Stone and Skinner added a pair of 9.875s to tie for second-place. The score tied Skinner’s career-high mark and gave Stone a new season-high score. Steinauer and Scaffidi both contributed a 9.80. NU totaled an event score of 49.30 and a final team total of 196.00 to win the IGI Chicago Style Invite, ahead of Denver (195. 25), Illinois (194.225) and Iowa (193.625).

“We went our highest score of the year and still left quite a few tenths on the floor, that is the encouraging part,” Kendig said. “Yes it was good, but we’re still giving up tenths. We’re getting better each time out, and we’re working hard to get into the meets and show improvement. I’m pleased with the total outcome of the meet, and the important thing was that we won.”

Nebraska travels to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday, February 20 for the Sweetheart Invite at N.C. State with the University of North Carolina. Competition is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum.

 

Name                              Vault                  Bars               Beam                   Floor   All-Around

Hannah Bower                  ---                        ---                   ---                        ---                ---

Erin Davis                        9.95                     ---                   ---                        9.825           ---

Lora Evenstad                  9.75                     9.775              ---                        9.90             ---

Kristin Fyffe                     ---                        ---                   ---                         ---                ---

Janelle Giblin                   ---                        ---                   ---                         ---                ---

Brittnee Habbib                 ---                        9.80               9.65                      9.775           ---

Kathryn Howard                ---                        ---                   9.85                      ---                ---

Kassandra Nathe              ---                        9.85               9.825                     ---                ---

Maria Scaffidi                  9.80                      9.10               9.825                    9.875           38.60

Brittany Skinner              9.875                     9.65                ---                        9.85             ---

Maddie Steinauer            9.80                        ---                9.80                       9.80              ---

Kylie Stone                    9.875                     9.775              9.775                     ---                ---

 

Team Score                  Vault                     Bars              Beam                Floor            Total

Nebraska                        49.30                    48.85             49.075               49.25           196.475

Denver                           48.925                   48.675           48.90                 48.75           195.25

Illinois                            49.15                     47.30             48.725               49.05           194.225

Iowa                               48.725                   47.45             48.55                 48.90         193.625